Perry First Church of God – A brief history
By Trudy Carlton with Pat Taylor
The Perry First Church of God (with headquarters in Anderson, Indiana) observed a dedication service for their new facilities Sunday, July 28, 2002. Land consisted of twenty-four plus acres located at 1915 North US221, Perry, Florida. The sanctuary seats three hundred persons comfortably. Many friends in the community and representatives from the state office attended the dedication service. There was standing room only in the service and members of the church served a wonderful meal at noon. Many lives, many prayers and people with a vision have been instrumental in bringing this service to past.
History of the Perry Church
W. D. Williams held a revival meeting in Perry sometime between 1900 and 1912.
Reverend Fred and Jessie Straw and their three children (two daughters and one son) came to Florida from Michigan in 1936 and began leading “cottage Prayer meeting” in various homes in Perry and Taylor County.
James William Cannon met Ruth Frances Straw at one of these meetings in 1937 and they were married February 27, 1938. Ten years later, James felt the call to preach but did not surrender his life to God’s calling to the ministry until 1950.
A Sunday school was started in 1951 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Williams (a near neighbor to the property at 1780 North Jefferson Street) with assistance from interested state leaders, Walter Kufeldt, W. O. Moon and Willie Wilder.
Reverend Walter Kufeldt preached a series of meetings in 1952 and a church was begun with the following families participating: James Cannon (designated as pastor) and his wife Ruth Cannon, Henry and Jane Deal, Matthew and Odie Mann, Lewis and Cennie Mann, James Mann, J. K. and Lois Jones, Grace Simpson and Wilmer Woods. James Cannon soon became known as ‘Brother James’ or ‘Brother Cannon’ and began leading the cottage prayer meetings in various homes.
During this time a decision was made to purchase land (3/4 acre) and build a building in which to worship. The first service was held in the new building located at 1780 North Jefferson Street in 1954. The members spent many personal hours working on the property and building. The original building was added onto several times, but eventually there was no more room to grow and eight ladies began praying for new facilities.
God Answers Prayer
In 1988 the Women of the Church of God (WCG) had vision and a dream to buy land and build a new church building. The following ladies: Ruth Cannon, Chris Tuten, Jean Jones, Pat Mosley, Grace Simpson, Wonell Young, Kim Carlton and Trudy Carlton, made this vision a matter of prayer at every meeting. The ladies discussed a piece of property north of the existing church and that they would ‘claim that piece of property for God’. The ladies were so excited about this specific piece of property that at the next WCG meeting the ladies drove their cars to the property, had a devotion, placed the Bible on the ground, knelt around the Bible, prayed and claimed the property for God. The owner of the property Mrs. Juanita Blue saw the ladies kneeling on the ground, got into her pick-up truck and drove over to see what was happening. Trudy Carlton told Mrs. Blue that they were claiming this piece of property for God and the Perry First Church of God.
Mrs. Blue called the pastor, James Cannon and requested that he come talk to her about the property. She stated that she had received a cash offer on the 12 acres, but if the church was interested, she would save the property for them. The ladies continued to pray and seek God concerning the property wondering where they would ever get the money to purchase it.
In 1989 Brother and Sister Cannon, Brother Byrum Whitfield and Trudy Carlton went to talk with Mrs. Blue about the land. They were embarrassed to make an offer, but with God’s leading they decided to offer a down payment and month payment, trusting in God that he would provide. (Byrum Whitfield was holding some funds from the Salem Church of God, which had disbanded, and agreed to use this as part of the down payment.) Mrs. Blue accepted their offer and said that she would sell them half of the property consisting of six acres and after this was paid off she would sell them the other six acres. She also told them that she would hold the property and not sell it to anyone else. The papers were drawn up and the first payment was made January 3, 1990. The original six acres were paid off in 1999.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held October 13, 2001 and all the people had a mind to work. A beautiful building was erected to the glory of God. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift”. 2 Corinthians 9:15
Brother Cannon continued as pastor of the Church and effective July 2002 Bill Carpenter was called as associate pastor to serve with his wife Omalene.